Car dealers are fighting to get exempted from legislation that would prohibit them from selling used cars or renting or lending new models before recall repairs are made.

7:13 AM,
Jan. 17, 2013

Written by

Jayne O'Donnell
USA TODAY

Car dealers and small rental-car companies want to be able to sell, lend or rent cars that have been recalled for a variety of defects - before they're fixed. And they're working behind the scenes on Capitol Hill to make sure they can.

Major rental-car companies agreed last year not to do that. But lawmakers want everyone on board. Legislation to block all rental-car companies from lending out recalled vehicles before repairs are made will be reintroduced soon in the new Congress, says bill co-sponsor Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.